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Musical theatre channel, Encore Radio launches on DAB

Lovers of songs from the musicals will be in Musical Theatre heaven with the launch of Encore Radio, a brand new 24-hour 7 days a week radio station playing hits from musicals and films.

Encore Radio launched at 1.00pm on Monday 24 October, presenting a mix of West End and Broadway favourites from shows loved by millions of theatregoers across the UK. But it’s not just wall to wall music, Encore Radio will also provide all the showbiz news, weather and other features listeners expect from their favourite radio station, together with a host of well-known presenters, including “Hollyoaks”, Blue and West End Star Duncan James, national radio name Jamie Crick, who had a 20-year career as one of ClassicFM’s best-known presenters, and TV and radio personality Liz Wickham.

Encore Radio will be available in three ways: Through a free app for tablet, iPhone and android smartphones, online via encoreradio.co.uk and on DAB digital radio across London and the South East.

Among the thousands of tracks on the station play list, which will be changed monthly, will be current West End shows such as the long running hits “Les Miserables” and “The Phantom of the Opera” alongside more recent smash hits “Aladdin”, “Matilda” and “Wicked” and the soon to arrive in the West End “Hamilton”. Plus firm favourites from the past such as “Singing in the Rain” and “West Side Story”.

Encore Radio’s weekly schedule includes several standalone programmes featuring in-depth interviews with West End stars, broadcasts from opening nights and backstage news and gossip and reviews of the reviews of the shows. If you’re a Musical Theatre fan you can’t afford not to tune in each day. Encore Radio will become the no1 destination for theatre lovers and people who enjoy music from the stage and films. Backed by major radio group UKRD, which owns and operates 14 local commercial radio stations with a further 8 services delivered via DAB, the station will have studios in London and Guildford.

Content Director Jamie Crick from Encore Radio said:

“Britain has the most successful theatre industry in the world. Now finally there is a radio station catering for the huge number of people who visit the theatre or love the music from shows and films.”

Richard Johnston, Head of commercial radio at communications infrastructure business Arqiva, added:

“Digital radio continues to gain momentum in the UK, providing greater choice to listeners at home, in their cars or on the move.

UKRD is an important customer of ours and we’ve worked hard to deliver Encore Radio in the best way possible to maximise the potential listenership on digital radio. I’m delighted to welcome Encore Radio to the DAB platform across London and the South East.”

Chairman of the Encore Radio board, Gregory Watson, said that he was delighted with the launch and that

“This station fills a real gap in the marketplace and, for lovers of musical theatre, it doesn’t get any better.”

UKRD Group CEO William Rogers added:

“We are delighted to be working with some really excellent people on this project and excited to get this launched and underway so that anyone who likes and enjoys listening to songs from musical theatre can tune in.”